Automatic advertising machine



ZSheQgs-Sheet 1 J D M LACHLAN AUTOMATIC' ADVERTISING MACHINE w 7 r i i .F m 1] a June 24; 1930.

June 24, 1930. v .J,-'D. MaCL-ACHLAN 1,767,864

AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented June 24, 1930 1 UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN D. MAOLACHLAN, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY ,MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MAC-AD-CQ, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI AUTOMATIC ADVERTIfiING MACHINE Application filed August 20, 1928. Serial No. 300,627.

This invention relates to automatic advertising devices of that general class in which different advertisements are successively displayed. As distinguished from the 5 conventional types in which advertisements are successively flashed on a 'screen or displayed by the travel of a web which can be seen in motion my object broadly isto produce a display device in which is combined an intermittently movable web or apron com posed of advertising sections corresponding in width to the distance travelled in eachv intermittent movement, with means for hiding each section from view as it is moving to or from the display point and for uncovering each section as or after-it comes to rest at the display point. More specifically my object is to produce a display device in which is provided a movable curtain which 24 passes the display point and in such action shuts from view an advertisement atvsuch point and almost immediately thereafter in passing such point exposes to view another advertisement at" the display point.

Another object'i's to provide a construction composed of an intermittently moving web containing advertisements, and a" continuously moving curtain which effects'the intermittent'movement of the web and ex- .poses the advertisements successively at display point. i 1

A further object is to provide a continuously moving curtain which effects a change in position of advertisements at a display point, and in accomplishing such result hides from view the movement of the advertise ments so that the latter are always at rest when being displayed and only one can be displayed at a time.

Another object is to provide a construc tion including an intermittently movable web made up of detachably linked advertising sections of equal size, for convenience in either shortening or lengthening the Web by removing or adding a section or sections, and a further object is to provide a construction in which the working mechanism is removably housed in a casing, so that it shall be possible to remove the working mechanism as a unit from the casing for repair purposes or for replacement by another unit.

A still further object is to provide a de vice of the character outlined which can be manufactured economically, and possesses the desirable qualities of simplicity, strength, and durability, and which will be equally serviceable upon a stationary or travelling support.

With the general objectsin view mentioned, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described 7 movable parts just prior to the intermittent actuation of one of them by the other.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the said movable parts of Figure 4 in the position they occupy just before 'one of them ceases to impart movement to the other.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing two of the advertising sections in disconnected relation.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a casing provided with a window 2 in its front wall through which the advertisements are viewed, as successively displayed by an endless web or apron 8. The web or apron extends vertically between and over a pair of guide rollers 1- respectively located within the casing and spaced slightly back of the front wall thereof at the bottom and top of the window, so that at proper times, an advertisement appearing on said vertical portion of the web may be observed through said window. The web to have a large display capacity within ,a relatively small casing, also extends around it to shrink or expand slightly, an

* truction equipped at regulard date and aplurality of rollers 5 suitably journaled within the casing, and around another series of rollers 6 within the casing, but preferably journaled in a swinging frame 7 pivoted at 8 to a skeleton frame 9 removably arranged within the casing. To hold the web or apron, which engages all of said rollers, under proper tension regardless of weather conditions which may tend to cause suitable ied howmeans are employed. It is prefer ever, in accomplishing such result, to mount all of the rollers G on the frame 7, as shown, so that only slight swinging movement of the latter shall be necessary to accommodate a relatively large shrinkage or esp the web. As the arrangement oescr' provide. for simultaneous take-up or en 1- sion of all of the horizonially-extending portions of the web, it is possible to shorten the web by removing an adverti section or to increase its length by i y g di-tional section. Ifthe sections narrow the above statement applies to the removal or insertion of'a plurality of tions. The means for holding the swing the web shall be taut at all times, consists of a spring 10, the spring being mounted on a rod '11 extending longitudinally of the casing and pivoted at 12 to a cross bar :13 of'the frame 7, the spring bearing at its rear end against a collar 18?, and at its front end against a guide or support 142 secured event stretching of the web occurs, reverses the rent of the swing me and thus maintains the web in stretched or taut condition. g

The web may be of any suitable consrances apart substantially corresponding to distances between the axes of rollers l, with projections forsuccessive engagement by an actuatin means, as hereinafter explained. Each of the sections will carry an advertisement and at opposite sides thereof the projections mentioned are located. plified, t e se iions such opposite sides th alined loops 15, the loops g aced apart to accommoreceive between rem the corrc spending loops of adjacent following sections, and the projections mentioned are in the form of bar' which extend through the alined loops of adjacent sections and thus connect them with a hinge relation, the rods preferably projecting beyond the side margins of the sections and rollers over which web extends, as indicated at 16.

.it each 151 l til wheel 21 As exempreceding and journaled in the frame, and around a pairof front sprocket wheels '19 and also mount-' ed on shafts suitably journaled in the frame. Any suitable means may be employed for effecting operation of the sprocket wheels,

but the-preferred construction is to provide the shaft of sprocket wheels 20, with a worm meshing with a worm 2:2 on the shaft of an electric or equivalent motor 23 onthe frame as shown,or at any other convenient point. Spanning the spaces between 1 and attached to the sprocket chains in :any suitable manner, preferably so that it is readily detachable, is a curtain 24. il he curtain is of such length that when its advanced end attains a position at the top of the window if the curtain is moving upwardlyit completely hides the advertising section otherwise visible through the window, and also underlies and spans the following advertising section. At'a point about midway the length :of the curtain, the chains are provided with dogs or lugs 25, sothat when that portion of the curtain in advance of the dogs or lugs has spanned the window and thus hidden from view the advertising 'tion was unobservable through the window because the rear half of the curtain covered it. As the following section replaces the section previously disclosed, the dogs or lugs pass out of engagement with the engaged projections 16, due to the fact that the latter change their direction from an upward to a rearward movement. ,As the dogs become disengaged, the movement of the advertising web ceases, but the movement of the curtain continues and thus exposes through the window the advertising section remaining stationary until. the front half of the curtain has made nearly complete circuit within the casing, and has again assumed a position between the window and the vertical portion of the advertising web.

the latter is thus hidden from view, the dogs or legs engage the projections 16 occurout of View and the portion of the curtain and the following section, so that motion shall be imparted to the web to move the advertising section from behind the window and replace it by the following section, and immediately after this occurs the dogs or lugs pass out of engagement with the web prpjections, all subsequent operations being repetitions of those already described. It will thus be understood that the advertising sections of the web are successively displayed through intermittent movement or travel of the web effected by continuous movement or travel of the curtain, and that the size and movement of the latter is such that the observer cannot determine what effects the change of advertisements, as the web is always at rest when the advertisements are displayed.

If it is desired the interior of the casing may be illuminated by electric lamps 26 emitting light of any color or combinations of colors which may be desired or which lend to the attractiveness of the display.

A device of the character described should be desirable, especially for street car advertising, and window and store advertising, as it can be made and operated at a low cost, and without requiring constant or frequent supervision of skilled operators, and which furthermore, is not objectionable on the ground of fire hazard. It is also of such construction that the advertising sections can be easily removed and new ones as quickly substituted, it being of course understood that convenient accessibility to the web desirable, for example, by making the top of the casing in the form of a door 27 it being noted that when a section is to be removed or replaced, the motor can be operated by hand until a particular section of the web is accessible through the top of the casing when the door thereof is opened. Another feature to which attention should be called, is that the working mechanism as a unit. is removable from the casing either through the door opening mentioned or by having another wall of the casing in the form of a door, By such construction, it will be possible to conveniently make exchanges of units when necessary or desirable, and by having the unit removable, changes or repairs of the advertising web or any other part can be more conveniently made,

I as the unit can be taken to a factory or repair shop, a new unit replacing it in the casing so that the use of the device need not be interrupted for a substantial period of time because of the necessity or desirability of making changes or repairs. Vhile the continuously travelling curtain described is the preferred construction because of its simplicity, positiveness of action and infrequent necessity of repair, it is also desirable because it provides on its outer face for any suitable matter on which it is desired to affixed to the chains and provision made for detachably securing an advertisement upon its outer side.

It will be further understood that while the continuously moving curtain is preferred to perform the functions hereinbefore set forth, it is possible to substitute a rotary shutter or slide for hiding the web from view while in motion, and through suitable conventional mechanism, incidentally effect the operation of the web;

From the above description, it wi l be up parent that I have produced an automatic advertising device which embodies the features of advantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the objects of the invention. and which may be modified or varied with: out departing from the principles of construction and mode of operation involved or from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. An advertising machine comprising a casing having a display window, an endless web containing matters for successive display at said window, driven means within the casing, and completely surrounding the web means actuated by the driven means for periodically moving the web to with-' draw display matter thereon from a display position at said window anddispose other display matter in display position at said window, and means movable constantly with the driven means for interpositionbetween the web and window during'movement of theformer.

2. Ana'dvertising machine comprising a casing having a displaywindow, an endless web containing matters for successive display at said window, continuously driven means within the casing, and completely surrounding the web means actuated by the driven means for periodically moving the web to withdraw display matter thereon llU from a display position at said window and dispose other display matter in display position at said window, and means constantly movable with the driven means for interposition between the web and window during movement of the former. Y Y Y 3. An advertising machine comprisinga casing having a display window, an endless web composed of transversely-extending advertising sections, rollers for guiding said web so that the advertising sections shall replace each other in rotation in occupying a display position at said window, driven means completely surrounding the web for periodically moving the latter to withdraw one advertising section from a posit-ion'op posite the window and replace it by another, and means movable with the driven means,

for interposition between the web and window opening during the withdrawal action of one advertising section and its replacement by another.

4:. In an advertising machine, a casing provided with a window, an endless web composed of sections, within the casing, guide rollers for the web and for holding each section thereof successively opposite :the Window, an endless-driven means *ithin the casing, completely surrounding the web means whereby said driven means shall periodically effect movement of the web to withdraw one section thereof from the window and replace it with another, and a curtain carried by said driven means for interposition between the window and the adjacent portion of the web for substantially the full area of the window when theweb is in 5 motion.

5. In an advertising machine, a casing. provided with a window, an endless web within the casing, composed of transversely extending sections, guide rollers for the web and for holding each section thereof suc cessively opposite the window, an endless driven means within the casing, completely surrounding the web means whereby said driven means shall periodically efi'ect movement of the web to withdraw one section 7 thereof from the window and replace it witl' another, and a curtain carried by the driven means and of about twice the length of the window opening, and interposed between the 40 window and the displayed section of the web as said section is being withdrawn from its position adjacent the window and another section is replacing it.

6. In an advertising machine, a casing having a window, guide rollers within the casing, an endless web composed of .edvertising sections of length about equal to the height of the window and provided at the junction of the sections with lateral projections, driven chains within the casing provided with fixed dogs for successively engaging the projections of the web to impart movement thereto a distance about equal to the height of the Window and then pass out-of engagement with such projections, and a enrtain'carried by said chains and of about tWicet-he length of the window opening for covering a displayed section and retaining such relationship to said section until it has been moved from view through the window.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

JOHN D. MACLAGHLAN. 

